The Seminoles entered the Tallahassee Regional with high hopes, but early games have exposed a defense that has been anything but steady.
Inconsistent fielding has forced pitchers to throw more pitches than ideal, creating fatigue and opening windows for opponents to exploit, especially against a team like Coastal Carolina, which sits 36th nationally in stolen bases.
Adding to the frustration, Florida State’s offense has struggled with strikeouts and has left numerous runners on base, a combination that proved costly in the loss to Pitt.
The bullpen has been equally shaky since the injury to reliever John Abraham, whose absence has left a void that the staff has not yet filled.
A Look at the Path Forward
If the Seminoles can tighten up their defense, cut down on strikeouts and lean on a healthier bullpen, they stand a realistic chance of advancing and potentially making a deeper run in the NCAA tournament.